Friday, November 23, 2012

Review: S05 Ep01 - Polygamist Debt Threat

Kody doing what he does best...
When we last saw the Browns, they had just plopped down $20,000 earnest money on 4 plots of land in a gated cul-de-sac. The developer gave the Kody and his Kodettes only 30 days to come up with "affordable" financing. Because he is a total idiot, Kody decides to tell the younger children the Kodettes put down the money to hold the plots.

Considering Kody's track record of disappointing his family with those pie in the sky dreams of his, it was not surprising that the kids were unimpressed.

In this episode it's now two weeks later, and  the Browns are still mucking around, trying to get their financial ducks in a row so they can present a letter of financing to the developer. But there's a glitch. They find out Robyn's credit is really, really bad.

Poor, poor Robyn. It has now come to her new family's attention that Robyn doesn't have good credit. Now, I wonder why that is such a surprise, being that Kody and his original Kodettes have all filed bankruptcy (in 1997, 2005,and 2010). And now they find out that Robyn's credit is even worse than theirs? Poor dears. They thought they were getting a trophy wife, but she turned out to be a booby prize instead.

So like any self respecting deadbeat, she heads on over to a lawyer (!), whose practice specializes in bankruptcy, to find out what her options are. What a surprise when Robyn used the name Sullivan instead of Brown with the receptionist. Really, what was the point of that when she's a Brown on twitter and facebook. Guess she wanted to use her legal name with someone in the legal profession.

Ah...if only I could have been a fly on the wall at that first meeting, when the cameras were not present! I imagine it went like this:

Robyn: Is it too late to file for bankruptcy? I need to qualify for a mortgage loan in 2 weeks.
Lawyer: Are you serious?

But what we see instead is the lawyer asking trivial questions that basically boil down to why is Robyn sitting in her office wasting her time. The lawyer did mention possibly settling with Robyn's creditors, but its obvious Robyn's problems do not merit an attorney's expertise. Not in a 2 week time frame. So, as Robyn clumsily leaves the lawyer's office with baby Sol in his huge carrier, we hear her explain she's on her way to  a credit repair guy that the lawyer suggested (wink...wink) she see. Yep, someone who may be able to raise her abysmal CBR score sufficiently to make the mortgage lender happy.

While Robyn pondered how her lack of credit worthiness could prevent her sisterwives from getting their McMansions, Janelle is on yet another meeting with Mona the real estate lady in the model home to discuss keeping her costs down. Sorry, but I don't understand why this segment was necessary, however, it's interesting that Janelle still has a lot of resentment against Meri. Janelle pointed out that although she always was the main breadwinner for the family, she still had to share her income equally amongst her sisterwives - to the point where Janelle resented the fact Meri could spend money on a non essential item, where Janelle had to pay "a big chunk" of the household debt and couldn't. By the time they moved to Vegas, Meri was insisting that her rental house be just as large as the other wives, even though she only had one child and money was tight. I simply don't buy Janelle now claiming that she understands why Meri warrants having a big house, especially when Janelle says in a dry,  rather matter of fact manner " I don't care what she does." Janelle does care, and it still bothers her, but she has given up the fight. So, while Meri dreams of her wetbar, Janelle meets with Mona to see how she can reduce the cost of her home. And, of course, Kody is no where in sight. He must be 'working' hard with Robyn.

Now that My Sister Wife's Closet online store is now the official income source for the sisterwives, Kody and his Kodettes decide to get professional pictures shot for the MSWC website. But wait, Kody doesn't think it's appropriate for him to be included in the photo shoot. After all, he says, "...I don't have a sisterwife...Why do I need to be in the picture?" For once, Kody is right. But in typical Kody fashion, instead of leaving, he stays and hogs it up for the camera anyway. The most shocking aspect of this whole photo shoot was Christine's harebrained reason why Kody should stay. You see, in Christine's rather weirdly constructed world, successful business women always include their husbands on their websites. I've never seen that, but damn, that lady must be on some powerful stuff to hallucinate like that. And frankly, the whole discussion about Strong Women was ridiculous. Totally ridiculous. Let's hope the photographer comped this photo session considering all the free advertising he received. Although I do think he was getting just a little bit testy dealing with the idiocy, sending out a vibe that asked 'Why am I wasting my time photographing these people'.

Maddie had her turn on the couch between her parents Janelle and Kody. As suspected, Maddie marches to the beat of a different drum (I always loved that song). She doesn't want sisterwives. She doesn't want to share her husband. She IS NOT Mariah, who hangs around with Mormons, thank you very much! Although towards the end of the segment, Maddie did appear to be teary eyed and her body was leaning more towards Janelle than Kody.  All in all, Maddie seemed like a very normal, likable teen.

Moving on, the show turned it's focus on someone that's been talked about, Robyn has tweeted about, and even a few times, has appeared in pictures but no one knew for sure who she was. Turns out, she's Robyn's little sister, Taralyce Sullivan.

Now, I have a fairly good memory. When Robyn was pregnant, she tweeted about paying her sister to clean her house during the summer. I thought this was strange, being that Robyn had so many bonus children she could ask to help her out. Now we find out Tara's still with Robyn, but now as a live in babysitter while Robyn "works". And she will be living with Robyn when she moves oops, IF she moves into the cul-de-sac house. Was it just me or did Kody ogle Taralyce? This whole arrangement seems strange to me, I think we are looking at wife #5.

With Kody by her side with his eyes on Tara Sol, Robyn explains to her that she and Kody are off to see the credit repair guy.

As they enter the credit repair office Kody and Robyn meet Harry, who likes to wear shorts and bowling shirts. He tells Robyn the bad news that not only does her credit sucks, she's got a $4000 credit card balance that is sucking the life out of her credit score. Then Harry mentions the fact that Robyn's got three last names going on in her credit file - what's up with that. "Oh, that was an accident" she says. Yeah right, whatever. Harry does tell her he was able to settle the $4k bill, but doesn't mention for how much. Here is yet another business getting free advertisement on Sister Wives. Credit repair businesses are notoriously EXPENSIVE. Amazing how Robyn's new pal didn't mention how much this was going to cost her.

Okay, there's just a couple of things I need to get off my chest...

Robyn, please stop blaming your divorce for not paying your bills. You got divorced in 2008, but you married Kody in 2010...you've been living in Las Vegas (from Kody's own admission at the beginning of the episode) for 18 months. You had at least $5000 that you wrote as earnest money two weeks earlier...and you've used money to start the online store, so why didn't you use those funds to pay down what you owed instead? And now you're spending money to a credit repair company? While Janelle is trying to cut costs by giving up a bedroom or two, here's Robyn spending money to a credit repair company. Even if her fees were comped, it still shows how warped Robyn's and Kody's thinking really is. It's basically saying we don't have money to pay for these houses and our credit is so bad we can't qualify for normal financing BUT we can waste money going to an attorney and credit repair company to tell us, Hey you need to start paying some bills. And here's an FYI Browns, you don't need a credit repair person or an attorney to call a creditor and ask for a settlement balance. You could do that yourself, for FREE. You pay the settlement balance, the creditor sends the mortgage lender a letter. Done.

So enough with the stupid tears, OK? Show some responsibility for once.


I think they need one more bottle of that green kool-aid!!
Next, we have Mariah's segment. She's being inducted into the National Honor Society...for smart people she guesses (oy vey!) and thinks it's going to look good on her college application. Mariah wants to be a doctor, which is very similar to the Big Love character CaraLynn (who was 3rd wife Nicki Grant's daughter).  CaraLynn was very smart, and also aspired to be a doctor - one that would  treat animals as well as humans.  Another thing I noticed: Mariah's mother is a first wife, and her paternal and maternal grandmothers are both first wives. I wonder if Mariah also wants to be a first wife, because her family perspective has been different from her half-siblings being that she's never had to share her daddy time with a sibling. In fact, when has she ever shared anything? I pity the women who will be her sisterwives some day!

Back at Mona the real estate lady's office, Mona is handing out the "You Are Approved" letters to the wives. Robyn's letter is last, and of course, she puts on her best sad face. But wait! Robyn's Loan Was Approved! Yay! Happy smiles and tears, until they get the credit repair and attorney bill.

Call me cynical ( Ms Jinx if you're nasty) but I think this entire show was full of pure, unadulterated crap. If they got those houses, someone must have laid out some serious cash. Not with their slow pays, bankruptcies, and a reality show income to rely on, even with Harry the credit guy 'helping' Robyn. And for the record, I refuse to call My Sister Wife's Closet a real business. An online business whose website was down the night of the premiere? So long, all those potential customers! Major Fail!

Now, I know you might be thinking about the parts I left out, like the segment with Meri crying about whether to try for a baby or not. Mariah and Kody's insensitivity towards Meri's indecisiveness on whether to try to have another baby. Or Kody's insensitivity towards Christine when she admitted being late on her car payment and the water bill. The reason I left those items out is that I'm sick and tired of it. Almost every show we see this. Enough already. It's getting really really old.

Meri needs to put up or shut up, Kody needs to man up and get a real job, and Mariah just needs to grow up.

And what are your thoughts?

197 comments:

  1. Yes, Kody "ogled' Robyn's sister, also known as #5 wife. It was so creepy and made me want to gag. i thought the credit guy was too casual, like he'd just popped into the office from a bbq or something that required shorts and a bowling shirt. Mona (real estate lady) needs to stop fawning over Meri. she does not need a wet bar because she does a lot of entertaining! Walk the extra few steps into the kitchen for crying out loud you lazy lazy woman! Christine, Janelle, I still wonder why you both put up with the terrible way your "husband" treats you? Is this how they want their daughters to be treated in their marriages? to "keep it sweet" and ignore their own feelings? By staying with KB you are saying that this kind of emotional abuse is okay. And it isn't. It's time for the women to man up or woman up, show everyone they really are strong women and get the hell out!

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    1. Credit dude probably figured he was gonna be on Reality TV so he'd dress like the Pawn Stars. Lol

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    2. I don't like to speak ill of a child, but I agree. Mariah gets on my nerves, too. I realize she is a teenager, which accounts for part of her unrealistic views. However, I think she is just like her mother, too. She operates in a world where she truly believes she should have everyting her way simply because that's the way she wants it. Maddie is completely different story, though. I just love that girl. My heart goes out to her. She is genuine, honest, and remarkably down to earth. I wish I could adopt her.

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  2. That was great Cynical Jinx. I think Mariah is a clone of her mother and she nauseates me. She is bossy and rude. Meri wanting a huge house is nuts. I don't understand how people can say she should have one too, that it shouldn't matter that she could only have 1 child and that child is almost out of the house. HUH? In my world you deal with the hand that you were dealt, not what you wanted to happen, otherwise I would be a stay at home mother and my daughter would go to college without costing us 22,000 a year, but no I have to get myself out of the house by 6:30 every morning and be subjected to the idiots I work with and pay my daughter's college.

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    1. Aint nothing nuts about Meri wanting a big house! which woman does not want her own masion??? It is nothing to do with how many kids a woman has ..... a woman deserve her own mansion, unfortunately most of us do not have the means, no TV show, to ensure we get it!

      Mariah is a normal teenager, sometimes moody, throwing tantrums,etc .... it is normal behaviour for kids her age. I think she has drive, if she is talking about wanting to be a Doctor. that is hard work!

      as for taking after her mom, you are correct. no wonder she wants to be a doctor. Do not forget, out of all 4 wives, Meri is the only one who studied further....

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    2. Anon 9:23 I don't know if you're being snarky or serious...I'm guessing the latter.

      I'm one woman who would rather not have the upkeep and crap required for a mansion or even a large house. My sisters both had big fancy houses (5 bedrooms) and they spent most of their free time cleaning - even with a weekly maid service coming in. They have both downsized to rentals and are MUCH happier and relaxed. I have a one-bedroom pad and I love it!

      Mariah a "normal" teen??? She is a borderline zealot. And yup, a lot like her mom, so I doubt she'll become a doctor. It takes more than wanting to be something - if she doesn't actually work for it (just because she got this national honor thing doesn't mean she's qualified to go to med school) it's not going to be handed to her.

      And um...Meri is NOT the only wife with higher education. Janelle earned a degree years ago.

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    3. Actually, Janelle is the one with a college degree, not Meri.

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    4. I think Janelle states she has a college degree. Meri has not achieved that yet and I don't think she has worked full time like Janelle. Meri is a sister wife and that means participating in the family and being a productive player. She seems to suck money from the children by demanding so much. She's supposed to help support the family, not take from it.

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    5. Anon @ 9:23, I have to disagree. I don't have any desire for my own mansion (who want to clean that much?), certainly not if my only child was about to move out and my husband was going to be with other women 3/4 of the time. And no one "deserves" a mansion, especially someone who doesn't work and whose husband doesn't appear to work and whose family is in financial difficulty.
      I certainly hope for Mariah's sake that she becomes a doctor. Although I would imagine she expects (or is expected to) marry fairly young and start having babies, which is going to be very hard to do while completing 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and 3-4 years of residency.

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    6. No Janelle is only one with degree!

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    7. We don't know if Meri even finished HS. Even if she has any college credits, she would have to start over. You only keep the credits for 5 years.

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    8. Mariah is a spoiled little brat! Not sure if anyone else saw it, but on twitter in response to someone commenting on what a brat she was about her mom...she made the comment that she knows exactly what the struggles of infertility are like. Hopefully she develops a little more compassion before she becomes a doctor.

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    9. I can attest that having a larger house is not all it's cracked up to be. I bought a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath ranch in 2007. It's roughly 2600 square feet (okay so not a McMansion but bigger than any house I ever had prior) with a full basement. I had two more kids since then so we built 2 bedrooms in the basement for the older children (see we made space opposed to moving to a 5 bedroom house, like normal people do) I find it funny we can comfortably live with 6 people in my home but Meri can't live in a house "smaller" like mine with one child and Kody there part time. Okay so give her a wetbar and pool but give her a 3 bedroom ranch.

      I hate cleaning this house. It's a lot of work. I know I have 4 kids and Meri only has one about to leave but let me tell you even the rooms that don't get used a lot (like the den since I moved my office downstairs) get dusty and need to be cleaned. I miss my townhouse where I could clean the entire house in one day. I cannot wait until my kids are older because I am moving to a smaller place just so I don't have to spend so much time cleaning. And the truth is if you have a bigger house you tend to aquire more crap which in my case has been true. Really Meri do you need to spend money on all this crap to fill a big house you don't really need.

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    10. Agreed! I am so disappointed in Meri's behavior -- all of these people have to live off of whatever money comes in, and it's not fair to ANY of them when Meri takes more resources than she needs. Even if she were working full time, she does not need a huge house when she is soon to be living mostly alone. I think she is behaving very selfishly. I wish they would speak more about their religious beliefs -- it is really "ok" in their religion to take more than you need?

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    11. We live in a big house now & we're looking to downsize in the Spring since we're new empty nesters. We now have 3 extra bedrooms upstairs, which we now use one of them as a guest room, 1 for extra storage,& 1 for our 4 doggies when we have to go somewhere. Things tend to get dusty bcuz we just don't use a lot of space like we used to...So I'm definitely looking forward to downsizing which will be way easier to keep clean & clutter free!

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  3. Robyn's debt was never important to her, that is why she has never attempted to pay it off until now. When the TLC pay checks started coming in she could of taken even a small amount of that to start to pay towards the principle. Robyn and the rest of the adults for that matter have been raised with the understanding to "bleed the beast." We even see this addressed in Big Love Season 2. I don't think Robyn ever had any intention of ever paying off these bills, and really still doesn't. $4,000 dollars just doesn't magically vanish off your record. Neither does the rest of your bills. Plus I would think that her creditors have a little common sense: a reality star (I use this term very loosely) who currently has a show, someone who was just documented on TV writing a check for $5,000, and someone who owns her own online business, it would appear that she does has some money coming in and she could have used it at some point to pay towards her debt. In my opinion, she is very fortunate to not be brought back to court over this debt as of yet.
    The whole housing situation makes me sick. If The Browns do in fact get these homes, this will exactly show what is wrong with America today. Even if by some chance they had the cash to pay down right for all 4 of these homes, it still doesn't cover home owners insurance, neighborhood association fees, up keep, maintenance, water, gas, electricity, etc... All of those bills are x 4 with absolutely no real income coming in. These homes will fall apart due to lack of up keep, the water will get turned off, and The Brown family will be looking for a new set of homes in a few months. They still have either 22 or 23 (if you count Robyn's sister) mouths to feed, cloth, educate, drive around, and insure!!!! I would love to know how or if the children have medical insurance. If they are just paying out of pocket with no insurance, I'm sure thats just another bill that will end up in collections.
    I think what truly bothers me, is that this family has no concept of living within your means. There is absolutely no shame of living with what you have and making due.

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    1. " If The Browns do in fact get these homes, this will exactly show what is wrong with America today. "

      I could not have stated it any better. When did we start rewarding bad behavior and poor choices? Where was a I? Oh, that's right. I busy doing things old fashioned way such as working my butt off in college and at my job to get ahead. Silly me.

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  4. Janelle put herself in Meri's space and sentenced herself to a life of having to put up with Meri. Knowing fully well that Meri will always have the best of her.

    out of all the wives, Janelle should have known better! she knew Meri well enough as her sister-in-law - so she got into this fully aware of how Meri was around Kody. Out of all the wives, Janelle have zero sympath from me.

    As for Mariah wanting to be a doctor, that is always good ........... I wonder how that will work out with wanting to be a sisterwife? being a doctor requires a lot of dedication!

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    1. My mind keeps harkening back to the segment, where Janelle says she's comtemplated just walking away. Even though she claims that she has accepted her responsibilitly, so to speak, it's obvious that she has put some serious consideration into the possibility of leaving. She's left the family before. I think on some level that's she's still entertaining the idea.

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    2. If this was taking place prior to 2007 or so (when home loan applicants could state income without having to show proof) the Browns would have been easily approved, then we would have spent a few seasons watching them go into arrears on their mortgages and living rent free until the lender eventually foreclosed on them...and during that time we'd see a couple new babies, brand new cars and rooms of furniture being purchased with what equity they had in those homes.
      Then they'd just walk away and return to Lehi while blaming the evil lender.

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  5. Bravo, bravo! **throws confetti**

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  6. Perfect summary, CJ. Thank you for your skill and time !!
    You hit all the high..(make that, low)..points of this whole sham.

    There comes a time when even a lowly viewer has to take a stand and call it for what it is. Sister Wives has deteriorated into mess of wobbly plots, murky facts and contradicting events. Add to that, the viewer also has had to watch a family dynamic that marginalizes women and carelessly manipulates children. Not a pleasant viewing experience !!

    "Big Love" was a script-written, ratings-driven "show" about polygamy. It was Hollywood using plural marriage as its engine for creating a product for profits. And it was successful, VERY successful in the early seasons.
    *But it was "fiction."*

    Sister Wives was introduced and touted as the "Real Deal" about polygamy....
    a reality show that would dispel all the myths and wrongful assumptions about polygamy. And along the way, it would show polygamy to be a respected and even beneficial lifestyle.

    But somehow early on, Sister Wives lost its credibility. Somehow Sister Wives started to look and sound just like Big Love.....with silly, crazy improbable plots and with characters who looked and sounded more like paid performers, including bit players like Mona the Realtor and the gym owner best friend.

    Somewhere, in SisterWives-ville, art (fiction) began to overlay life, or vice versa... and the result is a so-called reality show that is anything but "reality" !!
    It is now a "show"....a contrived, scripted "show."
    One episode of scripted, *not-real* drama after another.

    And that would be okay, I guess, except that the Brown adults lack the integrity to even acknowledge it.
    So the viewers are left to call it as they see it.

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    1. If you consider the juice,jewelery, and debt- it IS a lot like Big Love, isn't it?

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    2. I wonder how much of the first season was real. Now that we've found out how much animosity there has been betwen Meri and Janelle for years now they did a really good job of hiding it. And the "Remember Robin, should we let her join our family"?. And the kids all cheered on cue and Christine tried to look happy. Then when Kody announced that Truly (and don't you just adore her) isn't going to be the little one any more ( really Kody? there wasn't a better way to announce that?) everyone tried to seem happy when I'm sure Christine's heart must have been breaking. Kody sold us a bill of goods since day one.

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    3. YES! A sham is the perfect description. I also wonder how much of the first season was real. I fell in love with this show the first season because I was astonished to see a "plural" marriage that seemed to have normal people in it. Christine and Janelle and Meri laughed a lot-- they really seemed to enjoy each other and they seemed to enjoy Kody's quirks. They appeared to be having fun and enjoying their lives. I was delighted.

      Then it started going downhill. It was SO FAKE when they tired to hurry up and run out of Utah, acting like "the law" was chasing them. So fake.

      But I must totally agree with CJ that this last episode takes the cake.
      Every single moment felt like I was being used -- I kept thinking "How stupid do they think the audience is?"

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  7. Heeey Ms. Jinx, U go ahead w/ ur bad self....lol I was cracking up at Booby prize & wink wink :D
    Yes this whole episod, esp the credit repair/ qualify for home loans was nothing but pure BS. Come on now, didn't their credit get ran before when they were trying to qualify for homes when they first moved to Vegas over a year ago? I'm sure they were told then to start paying off their old debts, etc.... Instead of pitching in buying Kody an assault weapon for Christmas & a laptop for his birthday(that he didn't even appreciate or want..), Robyn could've used her portion of the $$ to pay off her old debts. Better yet, Kody could've easily stepped up & said, hey ladies, instead of splurging on me & Me taking Meri & Robyn away on fancy vacations we should just knuckle down & nip our debts in the bud, etc....OH YEAH, we are talking about the Browns here...smh
    Oh yeah, at the photo shoot, did ya'll see them attempt the Charlie's Angels pose? I was like, OH NO THEY JUST DIDN'T??...Lmao
    Maybe Kody will have an affair w/ the nanny, just like Jon Gosselin did...since he has already admitted that all 4 of his wives can't satisfy him....BLAH Nasty ass mo'fo!!!!

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    1. CB you raise a good point, their credit has been ran before. When they signed leases for the 4 rentals, wouldn't their credit been ran then too?

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  8. Karen here:

    I agree with Anonymous November 23, 2012 9:31 AM

    Janelle is not clever ....... just picture this:
    she marrie Kody, put up with Meri all over him, then comes Christine - puts up with Meri & Christine all over him

    she's 1st to get a child, Meri & Christine also get kids .........

    she still stays, long enough to have 6 kids! can't be that bright afterall. a smart woman would have seen after 1 or 2 kids that it won't get better but gets worse............

    Stupididty runs in Janelle's family too, her mother comes to meet with her daughter's inlaw and guess what happens: mom gets married to father in law!

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    1. >>Stupididty runs in Janelle's family too, her mother comes to meet with her daughter's inlaw and guess what happens: mom gets married to father in law!>>

      Yeah! What is with the Brown men? Do they have some kind of super pheromone or special brainwashing ability? How do they get ONE woman to marry them let alone one after the other?!

      =8-o

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    2. Not stupidity, co-dependence. :-(

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    3. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of women with low self-esteem. I feel so bad for their daughters.

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    4. You know I almost think it makes more sense to live this way in older age. That way sex and fertility are not an issue. The mothers seem to be more like friends than competition. It appears they spend more time enjoying each other's company than the younger wives do. They seem to spend more time with each other than their husband. It just seems more like companionship for them being older and all. Being older I'm sure it helps too have extra help with cooking/cleaning task so neither of them have to spend as much time doing it since there are no little kids involved.

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  9. Great review as always - omg that ruffle top Meri is wearing in that photo...yikes!

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    1. Yikes is right, DJ !!

      Seriously, does Meri go out of her way to look like a plump pre-teener?!

      Between the over-orangey make-up or fake tan?, and the seemingly always oily hair and face, plus the teenybopper tops....she looks bizarre.

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    2. Well Amused...Forever 21 has cheap clothes you know. Lol

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    3. Amen, Amused! Bizarre, indeed. Her nastiness aside, she's just damn unattractive. The idiot calling her "Lover" made me want to hurl.

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    4. The sister wives closet website says that clothes will be added soon. OMG. T_shirts with spaghetti strap shirts over the t-shirt. Socks with sandals?

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    5. well awhile back they were trolling for clothes suggestions such as ruched tops you know to hide those problem areas...that was probably June or July.

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    6. I'm wondering where they all get these clothes with ruffles everywhere. Nowhere in the stores do I see that stuff. Is there a special, I want to look like an overgrown baby store that I've not heard of?

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  10. Let's just suffice it to say that as far as the financing for the homes go, I am completely confused. I'm no financial expert, but even pre-approval just does not seem possible to me. Could someone please explain to me how people with their terrible credit history can get any loan much less loans for McMansions?

    Let's pretend that they do get final approval. How are they going to make the mortgage payments after this show is cancelled? Btw, I do think this show is quickly running out of steam. How are they going to pay the utilities for these homes? This episode was nothing more than a lot of rehashing of the same issues they were dealing with last season. Unless they can figure out a way to make this show more interesting, they are done.

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    1. I can tell you, as someone who has to survive the Las Vegas summers, that the power bill for the hottest months will run them well over $500. I have a home half that size and on average it's between $350-$400. Add in the wives extra "insulation" that they carry, you know they'll have to keep the temp even lower. I'd be sweating those bills!!

      On a side note, I know where there rentals are located and can tell you that they are still residing in those homes. If they were to actually get into these huge houses, I'll be furious since we had to work so hard for the home we have. I'm tired of people who just seem to have things handed to them!! =)

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    2. The only way to save this show is to drop the crap and get back to the day to day stuff. Get back to the Brown's just being the Brown's without all the false drama. Sure they need permanent homes but it should not be the focal point of the show. Get back to the premise of this being a real show about a real family. Show an actual day in the life of Christine for say, not the scripted crap just a normal day. Same thing with Janelle, Robyn and Meri (then we can see what Robyn and Meri actually do all day) Let us see more of the kiddos (cause they are the one's we care the most about anyway) More ice block sledding and that type of thing. I didn't mind the family vacation episodes either because I like seeing all the kids interact and I like seeing how the parents handle things with all those kids.

      If anyone who matters is reading, you want to keep this show alive get back to the everyday instead of beating the same 3 story lines over and over. We want to watch the kids grow up not petty selfish wives with fake tears.

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    3. I agree with Victoria. That would be far more interesting. And we do all care about the kids. I actually think the kids are turning out great in spite of the drama.

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  11. Thanks for the review CJ! Totally unrelated, have you seen the ads for 20/20's show "Breaking Polygamy" tonight? Is it new or a rerun? I never watch that show so wasn't sure.
    Also sometime in December there is a 'My Three Wives' scheduled after SW on TLC and it says NEW on it. It's a 30 min time segment. Any idea what that is? I've seen the documentary of that title, but this is only 30 min and as I mentioned listed as new. Thanks again, CJ!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We discussed that in last weeks blog comments. Yes Figure 8 Films is doing a spinoff using the Dargers, did anyone notice that the Dargers allow their bare arms to show???

      Delete
    2. I'm just glad we don't have to see the bare arms of Kody's crew!

      Delete
  12. LOL!!!!! Oh Voy!!!! ( I caught that statement too!)
    Call me cynical ( Ms Jinx if you're nasty)LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!! GREAT!!!!!! Are you in your black outfit??? I didn't know you could dance!!LOL GREAT REVIEW!

    Seriously, the debt deal on Robyn is a sham. We had learned she owed over 32,000; 1,000 to VS, more to Target, Sears. People don't just take the debt and the husband got to keep the trailer---without something. A Judge wouldn't allow it. IMO
    Wonder what the ex gets paid to keep quiet?? I hope a lot, he deserves it.
    Once again, I will say, buy 4 foreclosed ones. Townhomes would be easier. But, why not get the best and just chuck them when the show is over?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Several years ago when my sister was getting divorced, she took all the debt and let her estranged husband have the house and the vehicles. It was the only way should could get her ex to let her have full legal custody of their children so she could move out of state. Under the Gruber Test (PA), she would have had to legally prove why it was in hers and her childrens' best interest to move out of state. To avoid a long drawn out custody battle, she made this deal with her ex. Other states have something similar to the Gruber test, too. I think Robyn did say that she left the state to live with her mother. If this was the case, she might have agreed to assume all the debt incurred during her marriage as a bargaining tool like my sister did.

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    2. That is sad. I'm sorry for your sister.

      Delete
    3. Was the divorce done in a court with a judge or via mediators? If two parties can find their way to agree through dividing up their assets/debt, then a mediator is doable and much cheaper than hiring lawyers and paying court costs. If it was a mediator, she very well could have taken the debt as her responsibility in return for full custody of the children without allowing visitation? Or something else she wanted. Just a thought....not saying that's what happened.

      Delete
    4. Ms. Jinx if you're nasty... Lol
      I envisioned our CJ doing the finger snaps in the air like a Z...haha

      Delete
  13. Not sure if this has been commented on yet, as i am a bit behind reading them. Did anyone else notice the couch Kody was laying on before they went to Mariah's ceremony? Is it just me, or do any of you think that is the couch Meri originally fell in love with when they went furniture shopping? Looks like somebody had to go back to get what they wanted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes it was. There was a segment where Meri said she got BOTH couches, andut that one in her family room.

      Delete
    2. She should make Kody snooze on the one HE liked, since that was the reason he made her get it!

      Delete
    3. Wow. And once again Janelle did up a family room, because she wanted her kids to be comfortable, whilst Meri got not one but two couches. Honestly, she's the most selfish, manipulative and horribly materialistic person I've ever seen on television. How can she watch herself and not see how much of a terrible person she is?

      I no longer care about her almost barren womb. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to discover that she'd been taking birth control for the duration of her marriage to Kody. She got one baby, the trophy baby, probably hated being pregnant and that was the end of it. Dark, I know, but the way this woman relates every bit of her money grubbing, resource snatching ways back to her inability to spawn is ridiculous.

      Delete
  14. Thanks for the review. I only watched the second half of the show and I didn't get to see a picture of Taralyce. She certainly does look like Grody's type. She appears to be plus size in the picture above and a cross between Janelle and Christine. I think she was intentionally brought on the show to increase ratings in the future. I do think that Grody will court her but I think this like the housing scheme will be all a sham. The Browns need a new story line and courting a new wife will certainly keep the show going. Just visualize this family meeting. Grody, "I'm really worried
    about the show's rating and we need to create more drama. I think I need to court a 5th wife. (Meri readjusts her Wicked Witch of the West hat) "These thing have to be done very..delicately." Robyn (sobbing) "I just don't think I'm ready for that." Grody stares at Christine using the non verbal gesture that she shouldn't open her mouth. Janelle (drops her checkbook and quickly regains her composure) "I have an idea. Let's bring another female to the show to create an illusion that you're dating her." (Robyn stops sobbing and perks up) Robyn, "Yes, what a great idea! I have the perfect person in mind...my sister." (Grody frowning) "Wait, let me see her picture." Robyn fumbles with her phone and prays the crying hasn't caused water damage. At last she locates the picture of her sister and lovingly shows it to Grody. (Grody scans the hooters and grins) "Great idea honey! She's perfect! Wicked Witch of the West Meri, “Well I have to meet her first before I agree to anything!” Grody, “You will my love.”
    Grody smiles while daydreaming. Sham or not this is going to be a great year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's my theory - I think Robyn's baby sis is way too young for Kody. Yes, she's "of age" but the backlash would be horrendous.

      She could also be "Logan bait" but I would think Logan is smarter than that. I don't think he wants to be plyg. And she's actually older than he is.

      My guess - she's there for the $$$. Not what Robyn is paying her, but I'm guessing that she's getting a little $$ from F8F/TLC for being on the show, plus being able to live rent- free...I'm thinking she wanted to get away from her fam --& who knows maybe she's escaping a bad marriage? I'm sure it will all come out as the show unfolds...

      Delete
    2. I agree, DJ.
      There is likely a back-story on the sister. One that has been back-burnered until this season. If there statements are to be believed at all, about anything, then apparently she has been there for over a year.

      Delete
  15. I read about 3 sisters wives all professionals in fact 1 was a doctor. I don't know where I read it. Was it on here? Does anyone know?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Here are the previews to the 20/20 episode scheduled for tonight:

    http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/breaking-polygamy-17771030

    http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/breaking-polygamy-17771030

    The episode looks interesting. I will be watching.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Got to get me a Sausage TopNovember 23, 2012 at 3:21 PM

      Thank you for posting this. I intend to watch.

      Delete
  17. Great review!!!! Cracked me up too.
    I think the whole show was so scripted, not that the others weren't, but this one seemed so much more and so obvious.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Kody stared at Taralyce's chest when handing Sol over then turned beet red. He has told Meri "I am going to have more kids" and Robyn is now late 30s. He has to build his kingdom. Polygamists generally see no problem marrying women who are sisters or cousins, remember if you are a plyg kid you might have 15 sisters. I can see this happening. It would certainly be vastly more entertaining than listening again to Meri talking about those 8 kids she wanted. I also try to not bash the kids because they are kids and have been thrown into this show by their parents but I am a little concerned about Mariah praying EVERY SINGLE NIGHT OF HER LIFE that her Mom become pregnant. I really hope that was for 'drama' for the show because if this is true, Meri needs to recognize her 'at risk' child and get her some real counseling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She is a very pretty girl, Kody is looking and lusting, you know it! What is Robyn thinking?? If everything is fair, does Janelle and the others have a housekeeper?

      Delete
    2. Darger copy cats. Do they ever have an original idea?

      Delete
    3. "...Robyn is now late 30's..."

      Actually, she's only 34. I'm not saying Kody isn't or won't look for another wife, but Robyn could still have several more kids. Christine had Truely at 39 or 40, Janelle had Savannah at roughly the same age.

      Delete
    4. "If everything is fair, does Janelle and the others have a housekeeper?"

      Excellent point, Mister Sister !!!!

      And if Sobbin Robin couldn't even handle her rental house's cleaning, and since her sister is officially the nanny, guess she will need yet another "employee" for cleaning the much larger McMansion.
      Probably they ALL will need cleaning crews for their new mansions.

      There you go, Meri...a built in cottage industry for you to afford your wet bar. The other wives all have kids to take care of and you have unlimited time and extra energy thanks to the green goo....
      So you can be the *paid* cleaning staff of KodyWorld.

      *Hint* about your need for a wet bar for entertaining....
      An ice bucket or two and a stylish pitcher of water can double as a wet bar.
      Honest, Meri....it works really well !!!!



      Delete
    5. Shoot, all I have is a one bedroom and I'd LOVE to have a weekly maid service - hard for me to keep up with just my little pad - a whole house would drive me insane :-p

      Delete
  19. I think they should invite Dave Ramsey to help give them some financial advise. He has core christian values and solid advise. Maybe he would encourage them to have some better financial balance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Got to get me a Sausage TopNovember 23, 2012 at 3:24 PM

      Don't think they would be willing to take advice from a Christian. That doesn't make any sense.....it would be like sending their children to a Christian Church.

      Delete
    2. Yup - Dave Ramsey would be a shark!!!

      Of course the credit dude wasn't exactly appearing to be a Christian...however *he* seemingly waved his magic wand and POOF there goes the nasty $4k credit card bill - whereas Dave R. would give advice and the Browns would have to do the actual work and sacrifice - horrors!!!

      Delete
    3. Mormon's believe in Christ so I don't see why they wouldn't get help from a Christian. I would however love to see them bring in someone like Dave Ramsey and seriously work on paying off their debt and living within their means. I would be more interested in watching them get their act togehter and seeing how they downsize, and struggle with new improved budgets than the crap we are watching now. I'd like to see how creative they get while saving money at the same time.

      Delete
  20. I love this blog, more then the show, Another bit of BS no one has picked up on is Maddie getting in the honors thing "for smart people" That's a for profit business, every graduating high school student in the country gets one. You pay a certain amount and they put your picture in a book. It has nothing to do with your grades or how smart you are, as long as you are passing and scheduled to graduate. Look it up online, You'll see what a big joke it is to make money off of parents of high school seniors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you are talking about, I may be wrong, but believe that's labeled Who'Who or something similiar. It looked to me this was from her school. My children have been selected, and requirements vary from school to school. Usual req. Are all A and B grades 2semesters in a row. IMO

      Delete
    2. I thought Mariah was the one that got the honors thing, or did they both get it?
      I think Maddie is a great kid, Mariah, not so much

      Delete
    3. Lol I doubt that 2 semesters of As & Bs is gonna get her into med school...
      "For smart people". Lol!!

      Delete
    4. National Honor Society costs nothing to join, and at my HS, it required a high GPA (3.something, I forget what, it's been a while) and it also required service hours, some sort of leadership, being involved in other activities....NHS was actually a really good thing to have on your college application.

      As Mister Sister says, that Who's Who thing is the scam with the book....

      Oh, and it was Mariah, not Maddie that got it.

      Delete
    5. I'm curious about Mariah's NHS membership. We never see her as a participant in anything, much less service projects. Although it's "for smart people", it requires more than good grades in every high school I know of. Maybe they found a creative guidance counselor, perhaps one who is related to Mr. Credit Repair.

      No matter how I try, I can't imagine Meri Jr. as a doctor. Medical schools aren't known for coddling crybaby cult numbers. Does anyone see her as a Number #1 wife? Someone beating a path to her door is another thing I just can't picture. Poetic justice would put her at 3 or 4.

      Delete
    6. First, I think Mariah will not settle for anything but wife #1. She see's how fluffy Meri has it why would she want to be in Janelle or Christine's position. Maddie did say the Mariah hung out with a bunch of Mormons so who knows if she is involved in some kind of Mormon group that does charity or whatever. She could have other activites but we don't know because this stupid show doesn't follow their real lives but the drama of the wives. I understand trying to keep the kids out of it as much as possible for their privacy but we really have no idea what any of the kids do extra curricular if they do anything at all from the show.

      Delete
    7. OK, I used the wrong name. Mariah is "the smart" one! Maybe your right about the who's who, I had a step daughter who dropped out of high school, and she received something in the mail about NHS, She didn't apply and maybe they would have caught that error then, still, Something stinks with Mariah being one of "the smart people"!

      Delete
    8. Well, anyone who knows Mormons knows that the church keeps them very busy, To busy to think about much else. If she is hanging out with a bunch of Mormons then you know the church has them volunteering doing something in the church!

      Delete
    9. I just finished the prolog of the book. I have to say either it was complete BS or things have changed pretty drastically after it was written. I think Kody should go back and read it. Read about the financial "equality" and how no one wife will let anyone go without. He said that if a wife needed a bigger car because she was pregnant with another child that would be a priority, just like if a wife needed a home repair that would take priority over the trival stuff the other wives want.

      So what happened Kody or was it BS to begin with? I mean obviously Meri is going to get her trivial needs (ie wetbar, pool, extra rooms) met even though Janelle has to downsize and keep cost down to accomodate the 6 children you created together (okay 5 with Logan out of the house) Seriously; the book may have been believable if there was only one season of sisterwives, but knowing what I know now after watching the show, nothing is equal. Meri gets what she wants regardless if she needs it or not and Janelle and Christine who could use the extra resources are told tough luck, it's only fair it's split even. Such BS. Oh and I about laughed when he wrote about the women supporting their own families first and then any extra going to the family fund to pay mortgages and stuff, lmao!!!! Yeah right so Janelle put all her extra in the family pot. What a joke. I'm glad I got this book from the library instead of buying it.

      Delete
    10. National Honor Society is based on grades as well as being decided by the teachers which students show leadership and involvement in the school and community. It really is an honor to get in. Who's Who is a big joke basically a money making scheme for the company.

      Delete
    11. Nationally, the NHS organization requires a minimum 3.0 and vague "leadership" standards. However, a local school can set even higher standards if it wishes.

      http://www.nhs.us/tabid/4018/default.aspx?topic=Student_Membership

      At some schools, the standards may require a high GPA and also require a certain number of the classes be from Honors or AP classes. For example, a school may require a 3.6 GPA and minimum of two honors classes per semester.

      Delete
  21. "Kody and the Kodette's"....too funny! These folks are so dysfunctional it hurts my brain.
    Does Mariah realize she'll end up supporting a bunch of sister wives with her doctor's salary? Who's paying for these college educations anyway????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Boston Corgi,
      I do not know the Browns' financial status but federal grants for education are based on family income, number of dependants, number of students in college, number of assets and the cost of college. Mariah wants to attend the University of Utah. Out of state tution is close to $37,000 a year for tuition and dorm. Mariah has an advantage and she may receive grant money as her father has 17 dependants and one legal wife. The tax payers (aka) you and I fund grants.
      This fact alone makes my blood boil. Mariah may be a good students but academic scholarships are few and far between and full ride scholarships are almost unheard of.
      This is another example of how the Browns are using their life style to their financial advantage. It is bad enough that that we have had to pay for their WIC, food stamps and welfare in the past. (Now we're expected to pay for their children's college education, too.)

      Delete
    2. Yeah, this aspect of their grifting really frosts me.
      It's all well and dandy IF... *they are FULLY supporting their MANY children*..but they aren't and haven't !!

      Along with their history of using and dependent on "the Beast/the system" for supplemental income....
      As these kids get to college age, these loser parents once again get to Bleed the Beast.
      Yep.....*we taxpayers* will be contributing to sending *their kids* to college while we work OUR butts off to send *our own kids.*

      And the best part of all is ..they couldn't care less and are pathologically focused on just getting their McMansions !!

      I would have some respect for them if they even mentioned just how they are sending Logan and soon, Mariah, to college. But that detail is a non-issue ......it is all about the McMansions.

      Delete
    3. If I recall correctly, that was addressed last season. In a nutshell, the kids are on thir own with regard to financing their educations. Nifty, since they pulled out all the stops and spent a lot of money to convince Logan to stay nearby. Interesting that the same effort isn't sent to keep Meri Jr. nearby.

      Delete
    4. She talks a good game but I'm betting Mariah (aka Meri Jr) will end up at a community college. Nothing wrong with that - that's what I did...but still. Like her parents, she wants and wants but doesn't want to do the work required to attain those wants.

      Delete
    5. Even if the kids are being told to arrange their own college financing, they (the kids) will still be able to claim status as "needy" due to lack of obvious family support..so they still will be "on the dole" for financial assistance.
      Assistance that we the taxpayers, not government, will provide.

      Delete
    6. We just went through this with our daughter who went to college. We are a working class family of four. We pay our bills on time, but we don't have a lot of extra money. My daughter wanted to attend a state university in our state. The total cost of tuition with room and board was $12,000 a year. We filled out the mandatory Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Unfortunately, she didn't qualify for any grants. She was able to obtain a $5,000 student loan independently. The additional $7,000 could also be borrowed, but she would need a cosigner for it. We had a long talk about the amount of debt she would be in after she graduated. We certainly wanted her to go to college, but we would not co sign debt of $7,000 dollars a year for four years. We can't afford it. She lived on campus for one year and she is now living at home. She realized that she didn't want to have that much debt when she graduated.
      Mariah wants to attend the University of Utah. The cost is $37,000 a year. That is a boat load of money. She MAY qualify for $10,000 in grants. She will probably get some kind of student loan, but she can't get $27,000 in student loans without a cosigner. This is just like the housing scam. The cost of want she wants and what they have doesn't add up.
      Her parents are obviously not talking to her about her financial responsibilities that she would have after she graduates. Mariah should go to college, but she needs to think about her financial obligations that she will have after she graduates. She also needs to think about the financial obligations that she will have when she marries into a polygamist family. We can't support a another generation of grifters.

      Delete
  22. Got to get me a Sausage TopNovember 23, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    Well, well, haven't the Brown's got themselves into a fine mess! Oh yes - indeeedeeee they have.

    The whole goal here is for Kody to breed enough women to populate the world with like thinking people, and to get himself into heaven.

    The breeders are now getting past the breeding age, and he needs to look elsewhere, enter Robyn's sister. Perfect....another breeder in waiting.

    Emotional abuse rampant and it shows itself in either eating or purging. So he has 3 breeders eating themselves into mobid obesity, and one skinny chick still up for breeding.

    Sounds like a plan to me.....NOT!

    You have to get your pleasure where you can, in Meri's case it is the dream of swilling drinks at a wet bar and hiding out in a craft room full of goodies to play with. Sounds fun actually - as I am into sewing.

    The others have their broods to look after, while downing pots of pasta. Raising kids on your own isn't easy - I should know - but all in all - Jannelle is doing a pretty darned good job, with kids that are independent thinkers who are going to find their own way in life.

    Miriah will be a whining 1st wife just like her mother.

    Christine...poor nieve Christine. Good natured, willing breeder, thought she would be sharing her life with others.....but no....she has to do it on her own, now that she is not readily available to all the other wives for child care.

    What a mess......I guess we all like to watch a train wreck and glad it is not our train wreck.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I had to laugh at Robins overly dramatic claim "I will do anything to get these houses." Sob Sob ...Really anything? Like rob a bank? How about get a job, pay your debt, and not go to Disneyland over and over.Stop BLEEDING THE BEAT!!!!

    I am not against people using food stamps that need them. I shudder to think what would happen to those children without them.I don't believe that the children should suffer because of the parents. But the fraud of filing bankruptcy over and over again is sickening. And now Robins debt magically is forgiven in a few short weeks????? I wanted to go to Vegas find her and Mr stupid and SLAP the @#$#%# out of them.
    I do not understand how Christine thinks that once they build these wonderful next to each other houses, she will stop feeling like a single parent.If any of the "sister-wives" wanted to help each other, proximity would not be an issue.

    I goggle mapped where they live. I have mad skills on the computer. They live on streets that have lots of for sale signs.Why not pick a neighborhood with 4 for sale homes and live there?
    OK rant over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree. She is so immature. She was crying saying she WILL be getting these houses. Is that what she is modeling to her children? if you want something, simply whine that youll get it and voila! It's yours? No, honey. It does not work that way. I am with you, she will do ANYTHING. Except, you know. Get a job. lol

      Delete
  24. Robyn looks just like Anna Nicole's cousin Shelly!! Remember her from the show?!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wasn't it Christine that wanted a craft room, guess that sounded good to Meri. maybe after she gets sloppy at her wet bar she'll go get Christine to show her HER craft room.




    ReplyDelete
  26. Why would Meri get the same budget the other wives do? It's not penalizing her if she gets less, it's just common sense. They should agree on a percentage that each person gets. That percentage should reflect their age and needs and how much they brought into the family.

    Each wife should get a fixed amount plus a certain amount for every child they have and even that amount has to be adjusted to the kids' age. YES, that way Meri would get the least of them all, BUT she simply doesn't have as many expenses as Janelle, Christine and Robyn do.

    Meri always acts like the other wives are being rewarded for having more children. The truth however is that the other wives need more money because they have more mouths to feed and by virtue of that fact they need more money. Splitting the money equally among the four wives does not do them justice and it is a very clear injustice to the children (especially Janelle and Christine's).

    To be honest the whole money fight about money (and houses) shows that polygamy does not work. These women do not want to live with each other and they fight over who gets what. In a monogamous relationship this whole mess would not be happening. Even when one partner already has kids from previous relationships there are fixed rates of child support and it is hard to have that many children if the man is monogamous.

    Before the show Kody never had the financial means to take care of 17 children. Now that the show provides them with a good income, he is out there buying 4 giant homes. Does he think about the children? I think not. When the show ends the money will end and the poor kids will have to fidure out how to get the money to go to college.

    And yes, Kody was oggling Taralyce with a smile on his face. She's young and good-looking. If he takes her on as a fifth wife, Robyn will successfully have outsmarted Meri!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really hope robyn is reading all these comments and realizes that her sister will be # 5 wife and she robyn will no longer be the new and pretty one! Move over Janelle and Christine robyn will be joining your pity party pretty soon! Oh the irony!

      Delete
    2. So glad I found this blog. LOVE IT! So right on so many things. Although, how did you not comment on Kody saying that he felt like a "pool boy" or "boytoy" while taking the photos with the wives. Um... did anyone else throw up a little on that one?

      Ok, well then getting to Meri. Agreed about how ridiculous it is for her to get the same income as the other wives- not fair to the other wives and especially not fair to the other kids. But I'm even more flabbergasted that despite the family's financial woes, Kody and Meri are still talking about IVF! Maybe all of this has been addressed on this blog before, but here are several reasons its downright crazy:
      1) IVF is around $10K-$15K a pop- and there are no guaranteed results. They are about to take on 4 new mortgages (which they obviously cant afford) and they have all those mouths to feed. How can they afford to blow money on this? Maybe they should pay off some of their debt instead.
      2) Again, they already have all those mouths to feed. Is it fair to the other kids to just keep having more?
      3)Why do they assume that the problem is that Meri cant carry a baby? Many fertility problems have to do with the woman's ability to produce a healthy egg--not just her ability to carry it. Just on meri's age alone it seems unlikely that she could produce a baby, much less when her age is coupled with her past infertility issues. Implanting an egg in Robyn will do no good if Meri cant produce a viable egg. I've had friends with infertility issues and I know its hard, but I think this ship sailed for Meri a few years ago.
      4) Why would Meri go through all the trouble of actually having to take care of a baby when she is living the high life with her wetbar and constantly getting sympathy for crying about the babies she never had?

      Delete
    3. Meri is not going to have another baby. When Kody offerred IVF in what season 1 she said no right away then. It seemed a dead issue for the most part until Robyn offerred. First I think Meri doesn't have a real desire to have another baby with Mariah getting ready to leave for college (I wouldn't either). I think she likes that she can have the kids over when she wants a "girls night" or play with Sol when she needs a "baby fix" and then send them home to their mothers so she can have her time back. I mean she doesn't seem to eager to be involved raising the "bonus" children she says she loves as her own, because if she did Robyn wouldn't need a nanny & Christine would not feel like a single mother.

      This whole should I/shouldn't I thing is for attention. It's all she has really.

      Delete
  27. Robyn is far from a trophy wife. She came with major baggage-kids, debt, no education, no job skills, no business sense, no way to generate income for the family and she already failed at her first marriage. I love how she believes in keeping the spark alive for the entire marriage but she couldn't the first go round! She isn't half as pretty as the other wives. I hate talking about peoples looks. But that woman looks like a wicked witch and has a bony teenage boy looking body. I'd take the soft curves of Christine and her genuine sweetness over Sobbin Robyn any day. Who is with me?

    I feel like Kody is a pimp for Meri. That is his girl and he gets Janelle to pay her bills. LOL

    Meris insistence on equal square footage when there are TWENTY TWO people in the family and the home only needs to shelter TWO of them is *EXTREMELY TELLING* of the family dynamics. I think that is why it's talked about so often. These women do NOT get along. They are competing with each other and always fighting for their fair share of the pie. What a miserable way to live. Grow up, Meri. You have ONE child and she is nearly an adult. You'll never have another child and empty rooms wont quell your "pain!" Oh, wait! I've already figured out that you're long over the baby thing. You LOVE the freedom you have and you rub your NICE THINGS in the other wives faces. I loved Sobbin Robyn's passive=aggressive comment about how if Meri had more children then maybe she wouldn't have such nice things. Real classy, Robyn. Meri, I am on to you. You're totally content NOW with having one child. You're just using that as your way or getting attention and sympathy. Booh hoo. No wonder your daughter acts like a huge baby. She gets it from her mother. Any sensible woman would say, "Since it's just Mariah and me and she is almost grown, I would be content with a three bedroom house. After all, the mortgage wont be paid off until thirty years from now. I certainly dont need a huge empty house for the next thirty years. So go ahead and do your thing, guys. Any bigger would just be a waste of space, money, taxes, utilities, furniture and upkeep." Then again, by the time I am Meris age, my mortgage will be completely paid off. And we live totally debt free. I can not relate to this gimmie-gimmie- gimmie lifestyle even-though-I-cant-afford-it. I find so much peace and freedom in living below our means. I think this family is in desperate need of sound financial and life coaching advice and then they need to follow it. They make tremendous foolish decisions, one right after another.
    It's EXTREMELY common for these plig families to marry siblings. It would be even considered the natural progression for Kody to marry Taralyce. Go for it, Kody! Then Sobbin Robyn will get a taste of what your marriage to her did to Christine. Both wanted to be the "last wife." Not likely my dears, not likely. As long as Kody is able to physically walk down the isle, he will be marrying. It isn't about you guys, ladies. It's about Kody. Make no mistake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree completely. You are awesome.

      Delete
    2. About the concept of Robin living off Janelle.....

      Janelle hasn't worked in two years. Robin's entrance to the family was soon followed with the madcap move to LV. Janelle quit her job then and hasn't worked since.
      So technically Janelle has not been supporting anything or anyone beyond what they all are getting from TLC and public appearances.

      Delete
    3. Amused -total word. No one is sponging off Janelle anymore. I'm sure she's decimated what little savings she managed to put aside given the fact that we now know her job only paid approx $660 a week pretax!

      Delete
    4. If Robyn was "bony" (I don't think she ever was unless you compare her to the others) she certainly isn't now. She has gained noticeable weight.

      Delete
    5. Janelle said when they first got to Vegas they were living off their savings. Considering they rented 4 houses which from what I understand you have to put down at least a desposit and first and last months rent (they may not have but I hear that's pretty standard) and then they had to stock the kitchens of 4 homes along with their normal bills I'm thinking they had to have had a nice chunk of money in savings to live off of. Odds are it was money Janelle put into the pot (I'm sure she got some nice tax returns each year with EIC and child credits considering she worked) The majority of any savings they had came from Janelle & Kody plus TLC money. So yes I believe when they first got to LV Janelle was paying for Robyn. Just like she was paying for Robyn's rental in Utah.

      Delete
  28. My only question about this arrangement is, who the heck is funding Taralyces life? Robyn does not work. She is sponging off of Janelle. So is Taralyce also sponging off of Janelle? I think Janelle is about one wife away from the looney bin! How much more financial and emotional stress can this woman be forced under before she cracks and mentally has a break down?! Sobbin Robyn feels entitled to pop our babies that she has no means to care for while other people, whether it be the tax payer, her sister or her sister wives take care of. She takes no responsibility for any of her actions. From creating life to paying for goods and services she has received. She is highly irresponsible yet she whines and cries about having to pay her own bills for a short stint in her life. Poor baby. You had to pay your own bills? How painful for you! Let me shed a tear with you-not.
    The credit repair segment was misleading. Misleading as TLCS other show-Extreme Couponing. As likely as my local store is to take coupons like they do on that unrealistic show is as likely as any viewer will be to get a $4,000 debt "deleted" from their credit record. Paying your debts does NOT mean the creditor is obligated to delete the information from your file. In fact, that is extremely rare for them to do so. Think about it, why WOULD they delete the information? Paying off the debt doesn't mean it wasn't ever in default. And who the hell goes to a LAWYER for information that you can find online for free?

    Mariah is a beautiful young lady. However, she is far too young to be that heavy already. Her weight is a symptom of a deeper issue. I hope she gets in therapy but I doubt the mental health of their children is a top priority for this self-indulgent clan.

    The looooong drawn out "were we approved or were we not" is an indication that TLC is scrambling for a storyline. Anyone can be approved for a loan. That is not an accomplishment. What REALLY matter are the terms. "You got approved." Big deal. That is meaningless. Are you approved at 6% interest with 20% down? Or 20% interest with 50% down? With no steady income, moving recently and poor credit, it's time to get settled in affordable housing, get jobs and slowly and steadily improve your credit and save for a down payment. It's not the time to move out of a home that you're already buying, from a location where you have steady jobs to an economically depressed area that is #1 in foreclosures. Oops! Too late.
    The Sister Wives Closet. I shudder just typing that. These women dress like they shop at Walmart or the Goodwill. As Seinfield would say, "Not that there is anything wrong with that." But why would viewers be compelled to want to shop in their virtual closet? Whispering: they have no taste. The web site is generic. The products are scare, tacky and look very similar as to what I would expect to encounter at my local flea market.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait to see the clothing on My Sister Wife's Closet. What's it going to be? Tank tops with built-in turtlenecks? Oooooo...what woman doesn't want her very own top like that!

      Delete
    2. Well considering the amount of time it took for them to post the Christmas Deco, the fact that their site was down for the night of their first show of the season, their shipping prices are out of this world unrealistic and a complete rip off I am not holding my breath for a clothes line!

      That said indeed, what the heck will they hock? Meri dresses horribly, I wish I could shake her and say "Meri! You are overweight and 45 (?) years old! Why do you insist on wearing ridiculously layered shirts and skin tight jeans!!" I really did laugh out loud when I saw her in the flouncy shirt she was wearing on Mariah's big night. Way to add 50 lbs Meri!! Does this woman own a mirror?

      Delete
  29. Remember Fundamental Fitness? That flopped before it started and as of 11/23/12 on www.kodybrownfamily.com they have a dead link to www.thefundamentalfitness.com. So I'd say getting at least their up and sometimes running web site www.mysisterwivescloset.com filled with mostly "coming soon" signs IS a marked improvement. However, whatever they spent to create the web site and the jewelry wont be recouped in sales because nobody is visiting their web site.

    A business that doesn't generate any income? A front of a business in order to lower their income tax bracket? That is just what FLDS are known for doing! A fraudulent front of a business is as common in their culture as apple pie is in mine. The FLDS even have a water company that exists only on paper! The Browns make sure their taxable income is low enough so they can qualify for those food stamps. I am confident TLC is paying Kody Brown and not the women. And with a "business" they can say they're "working." So the "business" does reward them in many ways, even if income is not one of the benefits. I read Sam Brower's book detailing his seven year investigation into the FLDS subculture entitled "Prophet's Prey" and so I am onto the whole FLDS business front. It's sadly extremely common in their community. This isn't by chance. This is purposeful and their way of life.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This show is such a train wreck! I watch it now because it's more entertaining than most sitcoms. I truly feel bad for the children who are bearing the brunt of the bad decisions and poor economic planning that runs rampant in this family. My issue is this...In Utah they all lived in one home (except Robin who lived in a rental home a short walk away) So now suddenly in Nevada it is this huge issue that they all MUST have separate homes, and these homes must be massive? I don't understand this logic. They will share their husband but not their homes? Doesn't make much sense. Also, all four women have said that having Sister Wives is great because you can work together/split up housework/childcare...wouldn't being apart (even living next door) hinder that? And if they all get along so well as they claim then go back to one big house or at the very least two larger homes right next to each other. It would save tons of money on mortgages, hoa dues and utilities. But then again we are talking about the Browns and logic is not part of their lifestyle.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I wish TCL would change the format a little and follow the kids. Get the lifestyle from their perspective. I think it wouldn't least be more honest. Just think, a camera on Maddie 24/7. That would be interesting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Personally, I wouldn't want "any* kid having a camera on them 24/7.
      All of them already look miserable when they are made to be in an episode even for a short time.
      This is the parents trip....the kids are simply useful props.


      Delete
    2. I'd like to see more of Truely. She is adorable. But the charm of Truely comes from her natural setting in the family, and from her spontaneous responses.

      I am glad Christine does not enter a marketing rivalry with Robyn. Christine seems to respect each child, which gives me respect for Christine and her skill at raising happy children-- even in chaos.

      I hope the Twitter and TLC attention on Sol, does not reflect the real-time portions of caring given to Dayton, Truely and siblings.

      Delete
    3. Truely is definitely my favorite Brown - she is beyond adorable!!

      Delete
    4. I wish the show focused more on REALITY! This is supposed to be a REALITY show but all we have been seeing is scripted crap.. How about filming a day in the life of each wife?

      Delete
    5. I agree..the kids are cute and infinetly more enjoyable to see than the parents are now. But it has to be extremely hard for the older kids who are at a time in life when they want and should have privacy.

      The younger ones can't possibly grasp what is happening other than having to accept that family time sometimes has to include camera and sound people along for the ride. And since Kody spends little to no time one on one with them anyway, it must be difficult, especially for the shy ones.

      Delete
  32. Okay, I can't not say it: Robin's sister is pleasantly plump and hot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. she's very attractive, and I would hope is aware that she could do much better than an aging 45 year old man (in comparision of course since I am 5 years older than Kody!) I would hope that Robyn's sister is intelligent and observant and learns from her big sister's mistakes.

      Delete
    2. Kody Brown are you on SWB posting anonymously as Magic Undies?!?!? LMAO

      Delete
  33. I would like to see TLC bring in a marriage counselor/therapist to sit them all down individually and then together and ask the questions, Why don't you want to live together as a family, How do you feel about the money being split, you say you this makes you better, how so? Do you even like each other much less love one another. This would help us viewers. Right now it is very dishearting to watch these woman's passive aggressive attacks on one another.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree...the hostility & jealousy between these women is just oozing out of the tv. What a negative enviroment for those poor children when every adult but Janelle is endlessly crying or on the verge of a mental collapse.

      Delete
  34. I can!'t help but wonder about basics like health care. If kody truly has a job, doe he carry health insurance. If so, would it be then for Meri and his 17 children? Immunizations, strep throats, sprains, breaks, ER visits are all part of the game with children. And the other wives? Who pays for their health care? Who would pay for invitro for Meri? These are the things I want to know. Forget the issue of the mortgages. That is just the ultimate insult for any of us who work, have families and need an income to get and pay a mortgage!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had the same thought - they can't possibly be paying out of pocket for medical expenses! Although that may be a reason why Robyn gave birth at home - and Christine didn't. Of course it made for better TV as well...

      Delete
    2. I usually don't make assumptions, but I think this is a safe one: NO, he does not carry health insurance. My son just got his first job after college. I've paid for his insurance for over a year while he did freelance work and looked for a job in his field. NOT cheap! There is no way the Brown clan is responsible enough to pony up for that responsibility.

      Delete
    3. Janelle's kids may have been on her insurance through work back in Utah though I'm betting even then it was expensive for so many. Private insurance is insanely expensive.

      So I'm willing to guess that they are all on Medicaid of some sort. I'm also guessing it was Medicaid that picked up the bill for the hosptial births. They typically cover pregnant women. Though in Michigan they make you go after the father for child support if you use any public assistance and are unmarried. I do think they let you waive your child support if you live together in the house with the child but the father still has to pay back 50% of the birth or something like that.

      Delete
  35. Just curious, where was Christine's kids? Have the been shunned by him because he is mad at their mother?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Amused....thank you for the corection. Looking back, the only reason I thought Janelle worked while in Vegas is because that's what makes her tick & I couldn't imagine her *not working. And then I realized why she initially seemed almost disapointed that *she was approved. She didn't think they could afford the homes. And she was right!

    Charlottsmoms...thank you! You made me smile.

    :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohmuhanim, U R welcome !!

      It is easy to assume that since Janelle seems to be the only one considering costs vs wants, she must still be actively bringing in money like she was in Lehi. But she isn't.

      Although I don't think Janelle is bright enough to stop the madness, she does seem to be a bit brighter than the other ones. However, that really wouldn't be too hard to do.
      Janelle just doesn't seem motivated for anything any more.



      Delete
    2. I think Janelle is broken is a lot of ways. I think the LV move has impacted her more than she let's on. Just because she doesn't cry like Robyn doesn't mean she don't feel it.

      First, I think Janelle rather work at an office job away from the hosue. She was happy being the working mother and bringing in the money. I feel leaving her job, she left a part of herself. Some women are not cut out to be SAHM's and she said in season one that she rather work.

      Second, I don't believe she ever has had a huge emotional value to Kody. They are not lovey dovey ect. So her place in the family was that of provider. She handled the finances and kept records. I guess one could say she is responsible for the debt but I have a feeling Kody had the final say on what money was spent and what loans were taken ect. Like she said in the book, even from early on, Meri & Kody liked to take off and do this and that and she was like who is going to pay for all this? I think not working makes Janelle miserable because that was her role for all those years. Just as Christine has lost her role in the family as the SAHM who took care of the kids, food, and running the household for the most part, Janelle lost her place as well.

      I think Janelle is defeated honestly. Meri always gets her way (and it seems like it had been like that since the beginning) and nobody else worries about finances so Janelle just finally stopped caring at this point. She's done arguing about it because she knows Kody will defend Meri and give her the house she wants. Probably isn't worth fighting over if she knows she won't win in the end.

      I wish she would leave. She would be better off.

      Delete
  37. Great review. After finally watching the episode today on fastpass I think I will just come here to read the reviews and comments. Episode was pathetic and wondering why the heck they felt the need to show each scene nearly 2x?! (Their 'teasers' were very yawn worthy.)

    If they did get the houses I am sure hell froze over. How does a family of 4 with no reliable income get loans for nearly TWO million dollars?!

    ReplyDelete
  38. The look Grody gave Christine when she was explaining why she wanted him in the photo shoot was pure hatred! Mind you I kind of understood where surfer dude wannabe was coming from. This was about the wives NOT him. Still how she can put up with such abuse is beyond me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He knows the sister wive's venture is a bust and doesn't want his picture associated with it.

      Delete
  39. I think that's just the expression his face assumes when he's trying to figure something out.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hey you guys - there must be a way of determining how many actual minutes of the show were new (unseen) footage - not counting the teasers which get shown at least 3x in the ep. SO much of the show was old footage featured in last season or the season before last (the oldest footage if memory serves - the ad nauseam re-airing of the Big Embryo Transfer Offer from more than a year before) off the top of my head, after deducting commercials, opening credits and re-aired footage I'm guessing we saw MAYBE 15-17 minutes of brand new video this past Sunday! Yipes.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I liked this show the first season....now it is just annoying as their true colors show.....three bankruptcies? each? NOT cool...what kind of role modeling is that for all those children....Kody is pissing me off and he needs a damn hair cut...Meri is just sad and DON'T have any more kids! Janelle is really the only one who appears to be responsible and she cannot hide her growing angst in this ridiculous situation...I know she moved out for two years once before I think she should get out now for good...Christine??? A woman with no self esteem to let Kody talk to her and about her the way he does on camera...maybe there's hope if she leaves but not sure how, with no work history, she could support her kids and certainly Kody won't....Robyn??? Well cry me a river....or an ocean.....we all know WHY Kody "married" her.....I just feel sorry for her kids she brought into this situation...her oldest son needs a dad....don't think he has one. All in all, it started out looking credible kind of a live and let live feeling...now it's nothing short of a freak show that has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with avarice.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Does anyone know how much money they recieved from book sales?. Is there any equity in the Lehi House?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is no equity in the Lehi house. They have two mortgages on it and owe significantly more than it's worth.

      Delete
    2. Then they need to forget the new mortgages and move back to Lehi and payoff the house they have. So they would essentially have 6 mortgages if they get these houses! No wonder Janelle was worried since the mortgages for the Lehi house are in her name. I'm betting a lot of the debt is since she was the one with steady income.

      I don't see what is wrong with the Lehi house. Everyone had their own space which I do think people need. Being together 24/7 would be exhausting. However; it was the perfect enviroment for their family. Everyone had their own space, and there were area's to gather in. The children had easy access to one another. Kody could see all of his kids daily and even tuck them all in and still have time for his wife of the night. They had such a good system going there it seemed. Each had her role and they were more central. I think it benefits the kids more than anybody to be in one home like that. Build and addition for Robyn and crew (it will be cheaper than the new homes) They need a reality check seriously. The solution to their "issues" is so apparently clear it's not even funny.

      Delete
    3. Build and addition for Robyn and crew (it will be cheaper than the new homes)

      I think Robyn was the force behind Kody moving to Vegas. I remember one scene where, after getting his family all riled up to move in 3 days, Kody calmly announces he has decided they will wait a few days. Meri looked at him with this mean look and hissed something like "Was this Robyn's idea?"

      Robyn is an opportunist. She married her first husband because he belonged to a prominent AUB family. She married Kody because he had a reality show. There is no way Robyn will stand for living in an old plyg house next to other plyg houses in Lehi UT. Even if her "wing" of the house was brand new, it simply isn't a McMansion in Vegas. In Lehi, she would simply be one of many plural wives...she would no longer stand out. In Vegas, she stands out...for the wrong reasons of course, but she's still a celebrity of sorts. Especially when Kody has to announce to anyone within earshot that he's a polygamist with 4 wives.

      That's why she has brought her sister in to live with her. She wants a live in nanny because in her little mind, it differentiates her from the rest of the other wives. She works now, therefore she deserves a nanny, just like all the other women "of means" have. And women 'of means' do not live in plyg houses. So even if Kody tweets why he won't build a plyg house in Vegas (permits and resale? who is he trying to kid?) the truth most likely is that Robyn doesn't want to live under one roof with her sisterwives. It just doesn't fit her concept of being a woman of means.

      The sad reality is she's just fooling herself. Once the TLC money stops, she will have nothing. That business of hers? I doubt if it generates enough profit to pay the webhosting bill, let alone providing income for the wives to live on. And I wouldn't doubt if she grossly overpaid for everything connected with that little enterprise, with Kody cheering her on while ogling Tara.

      It's Robyn and Kody that definitely needs a reality check!

      Delete
  43. Iam so glad sister wives is back! Only because I love CJ's recaps! Haha. You guys are all spot on calling BS on Robchin's debt. She could have paid all or even most of it in the last 18 months. I have a few comments 1) The whole Meri having another baby is a pipedream and all for story line. I worked in an OBGYN office for a long time. Any women in her 40s will have a low egg reserve. Having any kind of a chance...a roll of the dice at best! Would cost 25k or more. Tons of self injections, hormone checks, ultrasounds, and diagnostic tests. And if she uses donor eggs, what's the point?
    2) am I the only one who wonders what life is like in robins house when kody is there? Anyone bet kody has accidentally walked in on taralyce in the bathroom? Come on! He pervs on her. Flirts w/her claiming he's just being hospitable. So, does taralyce watch king sol on "kody nights" so robin can please him all night? Poor taralyce, what things she must hear. Haha. Kody is so delusional he probably thinks taralyce flirts w/him!
    3) mariah makes me mad. She's such a B just like her mom. Good luck being a plyg doctor. Not when she wants to be 1st wife. Being a doctor will land her in poor jenelle's roll...working all day, financially carrying the family or being "second husband" she needs special treatment like mommy.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I hate that I can't not watchNovember 24, 2012 at 4:04 AM

    OMG. and groosss!!! Now it is all clear about Krody and that LIV crap. They sell a male enhancement product!!!

    ReplyDelete
  45. This has to be the most miserable and financially irresponsible family ever featured on reality tv. At least two of the wives cry in every episode! Kody, Meri and Robyn’s stupidity and naivete is truly amazing. Run Maddie, as fast as you can!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No kidding. What shocks me is that on their FB page, there are hundreds of posts as to what a wonderful, happy, INSPIRATIONAL family they are. I can't believe people watch what I watch and walk away with the conclusion that they are anything but a train wreck.

      Delete
  46. I've been checking in on the blog a lot. I read an interesting post about the address or street given for houses seem to be fake. When i refreshed the page, it was gone. Wonder what happened to it?
    I feel so bad for Christine and Janelle.
    I feel since the New Testament mentions a husband of one wife, polygamy is not something i'd ever consider. That said, i think it could work if everyone had a role they enjoyed taking care of. But EVERYONE has to work

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read an interesting post about the address or street given for houses seem to be fake.When i refreshed the page, it was gone

      In the Posting Guidelines, we ask that real life information, such as addresses for the Brown family, not be posted on SWB for obvious reasons.

      Posting Guidelines - What to do if your comment doesn't appear

      Delete
  47. I've been thinking about Taralyce. Where did she live before? Robyn mentioned in an earlier season that her dad lived in Las Vegas and that following her divorce, she moved from Montana to Utah and lived with her mom for a while. Are her parents divorced? Does her dad have other wives? Is Taralyce her full sibling? Or does she have another mother? Or another father if Robyn's mother re-married?

    I'm just wondering if maybe Taralyce wanted to get the heck out of any drama that might've been going on at her home and Robyn took her in more to offer her a way of escape than to help with the kids or be a prospective wife for Kody/ Logan. This is only speculation, but we've seen how uncomfortable some of the Brown kids are with polygamy and I'm sure if, say, Logan had his own place (married or not) Maddie would jump at the chance to move in with him. Maybe all polygamist households come with some drama and Taralyce decided to find the easiest way out. Of course, if I'm right, she went out of the frying pan and into the fire.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can't say on complete knowledge, but believe Taralyce is Robyn's mother's child with Stepdad Sullivan.

      Delete
  48. So much to say, I had to make a list.

    1. It's high time to change the show's little opening ditty. Al four wives standing there smiling and saying how this lifestle makes each of them "better" is clearly not true, unless by "better" they mean "overwhelmingly sad and utterly despondant."

    2. This has been brought up, but if they claim to be so upset at not living under the same roof...why not live under the same roof? Buy two houses instead of four. Then some of the kids will be together and the wives can help each other out, which I thought was one of the wonderful aspects of being a sister wife in the first place. Or buy one big house and make it work. Each kid does NOT need their own bedroom.

    3. Did anyone else want to put their fist through their tv when that whole teaser of Robin not qualifying turned out to be a cute lil' hoax played by Mona? What kind of professional says, "Gosh, you guys, what are you going to do if one of you doesn't qualify?! Just kiddin'! Gotcher heart beatin' good, didn't I?!" WTF??

    4. Janelle has emotionally checked out. Which is sad, because I can no longer scream "Run Janelle Run and take your kids with you" at my tv anymore.

    5. "Big Embryo Transfer Offer." LOL!!!!!!!!!

    6. One more thing, and I really need an answer to this question or I won't be able to sleep tonight...what on earth is Kody carrying in his hands in the picture where he's off to Mariah's shindig?? It looks like two tubes of green jello. Is this the rich person's version of grabbing a plastic bottle of water from a case purchased at Costco to take along on a long car ride??


    My brain hurts. Thank goodness for this blog or I wouldn't be able to handle this show at all anymore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, the intro needs to be totally re done....all they have to edit in a big "think bubble" coming out of each of the women's heads when they say their script about how happy they are....Meri's says "as long as i get my wet bar dammit" janelle's says "pay for your own damn wet bar bitch I am tired of carrying your sorry ass" Christine says " He doesn't even want to be around me anymore...pass the nachos" and Robyn's says " My little sister is a ho....boo hoo hoo"...and King Kody announced Love is meant to be multiplied..not divided....and X equals Taralyce!
      I think Janelle will run, she will be gone by the end of the season..I do think she still has some brains left..I have faint hope...still hope though. I feel sorry for Christine the most.....she is just a poor little deer in the headlights of Taralyce's chest!!! My brain hurts too but watching it is like having a tube of pringles.....you just can't put them away at the commercial!

      Delete
    2. The green jello is that Liv product he claims to sell. I'm a little concerned about why it needs to be green unless that's so everyone knows what you have? I never heard of it before seeing it on the show.

      Delete
  49. Did anyone else see the retweet from Robyn that she did pay off all her debt?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't take Sobbin' Robyn at face value on ANYTHING she says. She's a known liar and has no credibility whatsoever.

      Delete
  50. First, love the review, thanks for doing these CJ!

    Remember way back when Kody mentions maybe his dad could mortgage his ranch for Kody's crew? If they actually did get pre-approval, maybe this was the collateral or cash infusion they used??

    CJ, pop over to twitter because I want no I NEED to hear your comments on peanut butter fritos and the credit repair company tweeting in defense of Robyn (in response to a fan stating pay Victorias Secret) and did you catch the pic of the truly lovely Truely now has hair? Very sweet pic of her with a Pooh doll. I do like this little girl!

    I'm sure Kody is interested in Taralyce but what will be the reason for the Darger visit? Maybe Joe will court her. Kody would be just a tad bit jealous with another plyg harem builder ogling Taralyce!

    I'd really like to hear others' opinions about the possibility of Mr. Brown Sr. mortgaging his ranch. Kody could have promised him quick payback once MSWC takes off or any MLM scheme.

    And can't any of our SW Blog friends attend one of the Green Goo marketing meetings and report back? Rachael, you went to the UNLV session, how about this? :)

    ReplyDelete
  51. I know this is off topic but for those of you who read the book, did you notice that Janelle looks a lot slimmer in the picture on the cover? Meri did too. It's sad how much weight they have gained.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Or a great photoshop job. I personally think she looks larger.
      Meri does too. Christine is hard on herself, but after 6 kids, she looks thinner than when she was married.

      Delete
    2. It must have been great photoshop or something because Meri looks thin. Janelle looks a lot smaller than she appears on tv (at any point) Christine you can't see a lot of her by the way she is standing almost behind Kody but the side you do see looks fairly curvy but not fat (which I think is a great look, skin and bones is not attractive in my opinion)

      Delete
  52. Perhaps the clan get a renewed seasons letter from TLC guarenteeing income for the next several years. Thought the original contract
    was based on the pleg family living together and their relationships.
    IMHO which is worth a quarter, they should move back to Utah and everyone get a job. If I was
    Janelle, I would definitely resent supporting the whole household. Also Kody SR should not
    mortgage his home for this bunch. This is a tough love learning situation for the family - not a bail out!! For twenty years they have taken the easy way out rather than the golden spoon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honestly I think Janelle only resented supporting Meri. If I remember correctly in Season 1 she was happy with her arrangement with Christine over the years. Considering how expensive daycare is Janelle basically paid Christine to care for her kids. I imagine Janelle rather pay her sister wife for childcare than a daycare for obvious reasons. Once the kids are grown I agree Christine should get a job and work. Robyn came into this family with 3 kids and debt, she should be required to work as well instead of putting more strain on the rest of the family. Hey she probably could have gotten free daycare from Christine as well if she played nice and was a productive member of the family. I don't blame Christine for not watching Sol full time while Robyn gets her nails done. I bet it would be different if she worked full time.

      I think Janelle has always supported Meri's expensive taste. I would get sick of it too. Meri worked part time when they were in Lehi though her daughter was in school full time. It's like Meri only did what she had to do to get the things she wanted and let Janelle pay the real bills. Why didn't she work full time and kick more money back to the "family fund" when she was able too? If I were Janelle I would have walked and maybe took Christine with me to help with the kids.

      Delete
  53. Another point I thought about as I watched this episode was their equally distributed funds. In my opinion, this highlights the misogyny of polygamy. They say they distribute their funds equally among the four wives, even though Meri clearly doesn't NEED as much, but what it boils down to is that the seventeen children in this family DON't get equal funds. Mariah gets more than each of Robyn's kids who in turn get more than each of Janelle's and Christine's. Every family I know tries to distribute funds according to the needs of the CHILDREN, but the Browns distribute money according the wives' needs? wants? desire for "equality?" It's selfish and is just another instance in which polygamy juvenilizes women and neglects children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If Kody had to pay child support, Meri & Robyn would receive it for 1 child & Janelle and Christine would get more since they have 6 kids each! I cannot comprehend why all wives get an equal amount when Christine and Janelle have 6 times the expenses! (Robyn's ex has to pay child support by law even if Kody is the new celestial daddy so does she toss that into the family funds too?)

      Kodouche does not provide equally for his kids so he really needs to stop having them-




      Delete
    2. How it should work in a normal world is Meri works and Kody works, she keeps her income and he contributes 1/4 of his to her budget and the same for all the other wives.....I don't think it is wise to get into pro rating his income contribution based on how many kids each woman has as that would really serve to devalue each family 'unit', having said that the women then "help out" one another as they see fit...you know....multiplying their love...not dividing it........lol

      Delete
  54. About Janelle- didn't she get her realtor's license? I thought she was working in real estate? :-| But I guess maybe I *assumed* she was working since she went to the trouble to get it. I really need to pay better attention! I thought she and Kody were both working, but I find out here that she is not and he is in some MLM scheme with juice- hence the green juice you see everywhere. Correct?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. all we ever heard was that Janelle passed her real estate exam but Christine did not. nothing more after that. So, i'm assuming Janelle never got officially licensed to begin a career in real estate. It's not easy hours nor an instant paycheck. It takes time to make a sale as well as to actually collect your $$ only at a closing.

      It started as a "family business dream" and went completely south pretty quickly once they all learned they actually had to put time, money, blood, sweat and tears into the career before they started seeing any substantial income. oh well. 'nuff said.

      They're still looking for their "get rick quick" miracle to appear.

      Delete
  55. Wasn't the whole point of the show to show that they were just like everyone else? To show they were religious people? They certainly blew that with a big one.
    Greedy, selfish, mericless people. I myself have 2 step children. Now, i could have had a craft room, since they weren't there all the time, but would not DREAM of it!!! In fact, we bought many things for her room at her mothers. Her mom works hard, but poor, and we thought nothing of it. Were we rich? Heck no! Trips to Disneyworld? NO! The point I am trying to make is that my husband wasn't doing it, I was. We had our on children - but as mothers do, I looked out for everyone.
    I see Meri as a greedy winch. all she needs is a 3 bdrm, with a large LR. Kit for gatherings, or a basement to do such. They are all in way over their heads, and not venturing to think, what about wife 5. which will come within the next 6 yrs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous: I agree that this family tries to pretend they're a typical white American family, and fail miserably at that facade. Every one of them is from Mormon country and was raised by the rules of the Book of Mormon. Those facts alone make them different from most of America. As much as the LDS put on a front of normalcy, in private they take pride in being a "peculiar people". Kody's current group, the AUB, are even more unusual.

      Where might have been interesting for this show is if this family had taken on a fourth wife from another part of America and who had no Mormon background. I would assume that the polygamist groups would take a female "recruit". The audience could have learned along with the fourth wife what makes this group tick.

      Delete
  56. DOnt the Darger wives own a cleaning business? Perhaps that's the connection- the Sister Wives now need someone to hire that will clean their McMansions while they are out "working" all day! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps they should start their own cleaning business- lots of exercise and no need for Green Goo or for Koddled to worry about any wife flirting with Trainer Bill types.

      Delete
    2. That would be a good business for them. Start their own cleaning service. If they get enough business they can always recruit the older kids and pay them a little something to help out (that way the kids can start their own savings for college ect)

      All I know is that MSWC is a joke that will never bring in enough money to support them all. It is so poorly executed it's not funny. I feel bad for the kids if that is the income they are relying on long term once the TLC money is gone.

      Delete
  57. Kody could be the next "Bachelor" and find a "bachelorette" who is a lawyer or doctor or some big wage earner..as they always have a token few on that show....number five could help bail them out.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Did anyone notice if Robyn has a new minivan? When she went to see the lawyer it looked like she was driving Janelle's (the red one). I kept watching for her car when they drove into the lots to show the kids and at first I thought I saw her old one but then it looked more like a new one that was a silverish/gold color. I just thought it was the same since the colors were almost the same. I really don't understand how they can all afford new cars plus new houses! I know they definately needed them since theirs were not well kept but that is a lot of money and Christine did say they were making payments on them.
    Also, Kody said (in previous episodes) that when they moved to Las Vegas they were living off of their (Kody and Janelle's) 401K money and that they were going to be taxed on them. He also said that since they were renting houses he wouldn't get a tax break on them like an owned home. If I were Janelle I sure would be pissed that Meri wanted such a big rental house when their money was tight. Janelle couldn't even use her own 401k money to make sure her kids were fed (since she was worried about that at the time), she had to give some to Meri to finance her rental home with a pool! In this episode when Janelle was explaining how the money was divided up equally she sure looked like she said it with gritted teeth! And I don't blame her!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought I saw her old one but then it looked more like a new one that was a silverish/gold color.

      It just may have been the lighting. The van looks a lot like Robyn's Honda Odyssey. From what I saw in the final scene:

      Kody's MLMobile
      Meri's maroon Kia suv
      Janelle's dark red minivan (toyota maybe?)
      Kody's Lexus (possibly a teen's car now)
      Robyn's Honda odyssey minivan

      Delete
    2. Thanks CJ! You are probably right. It was probably just the lighting. I will keep my eye out in the upcoming episodes!

      Delete
  59. I found Robin's sister on FB. She also goes by the last name Sullivan, it appears she is only 21. Did anyone read the blog Janelle wrote about her weight loss journey? I know it is hard to loose weight but I do have to say, I was surprised that she had not lost and appeared to have even gained weight. I can't imagine how it would feel to be the biggest one in the family. She is certainly the most likable in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. According to her FB page, she's just getting read to turn 20 in a few days. Just graduated H.S. last year.

      Delete
  60. Well this is kind of veering off the episode we are discussing...but remember during the Morales interview (which did NOT get re-aired during the marathon), there was the nuge Nachogate controversy? I remember that some of us here at SWB thought that the next season would have Kody and Christine going out and having nachos and 'laughing' at that whole situation....kind of to calm the extreme negative response from the fans towards Kody after that incident. I am actually kind of surprised we haven't seen any attempt to show fans that Kody is not the insensitive jerk that he acted like during that interview. They blew a huge opportunity to 'laugh at themselves"...instead any interactions we see between Kody and Christine are filled with venom. Kody does little to hide his distain for Christine. Think of how horrible Christine must feel about herself and their marriage. Anyone with any sort of media savvy would have spun that into a fun, Christine and Kody go out for Nachos and have a good laugh about the 'misunderstanding'. I think that says a lot about what really goes on in the families.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's because Kody does not think he said anything wrong. In fact, when Morales practically spelled it out for him in that one on one interview (she said Christine was obviously upset and near tears) Kody gets this look on his face and says..."you asked me a question, I stated to you where I was at the time." Clearly, this man has a major screw loose in his head where he could't see his words hurt Christine and he wasn't about to apologize for it.

      I have a feeling that's where he differs from Joe Darger. Even though we haven't seen the Dargers in a reality setting yet, I think Joe has the media savvy NOT to make the same mistakes Kody has. Even now when you check out the Darger's blog, Joe seems to acknowledge the not so complimentary comments where Kody makes a point of saying how he just deletes them. I don't think Joe would ever say something like Kody did.

      Kody is just too much of an egotistical fool to think he's done anything wrong.

      Delete
  61. I was just reading the Q&A they did last month and Christine must live in a delusional bubble because she said that she loved her life and never wanted to work but just to stay at home and be the Princess. What? If that is the Princess life, I want no part of it.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I can't seem to get this published...but if anyone wants these people to go away - simply turn off the TV and stop giving them ratings! Poof they will be gone if everyone stops feeding their greed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love watching and discussing trainwrecks, what's wrong with that? As my household is not a Nielson family (do networks still use that company?) I fail to see why I or anyone else interested in discussing the show should stop watching it.

      I don't buy their LIV stuff. I will never buy their overpriced junk jewelry.

      I can't seem to get this published...

      If you need to know what the posting guidelines are, please feel free to read them here:

      Posting Guidelines - What to do if your comment doesn't appear

      Delete
    2. I actually have NEVER met anyone who had the Nielson box...I don't know anyone I know that knows anyone that has ever had that thing. I am surprised with all the DVR's now and how TVs are made that they don't have those types of things built in.

      I don't believe in the ratings, think they are made up!!! If by me turning off the TV would make it go away I would shut it off.

      Off the subject, but did anyone see the upcoming show for the ID Channel called Amish Mafia??? Wow this trying WAY to hard....lol

      Delete
    3. Sorry I was wrong, its not the ID Channel its Discovery for the Amish Mafia lol

      Delete
  63. This blog is not just about this show, but also abt. Polygamy in general. we enjoy it as a pastime, but it is also educational, and friendships formed. If you have a differentviewpoint, and would liketosharea positive one then joinrightin. If you don't like discussions, a line used before by my friend CJ applies, thanksforstoppingby, andwe hope you find a blog that suites your wants!

    ReplyDelete
  64. I have watched this show from the beginning and I read their book. I just can no longer stomach Meri. She is the most selfish person I've ever heard of. ALL moms make sacrifices financially when they have a growing family. She is just down right mean. She shouldn't have another baby. It may come out just like the next selfish person on the show - Mariah.

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  65. Just how many PURPLE SHIRTS did Bloaty-Kody go through in this first episode? Ugh, he appears to have back-boobs in some shots.

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  66. Robyn has all the doodling time in the world (thanks to her live-in sister maid) and yet, it's CHRISTINE who comes up w/the Christmas ornament?? the ONLY newly added piece to the Silly Whiners closet collection!! lol

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  67. I just found out that the Darger boy's band played at Robyn and Kody's wedding reception. Was I the last to figure this one out? I guess the two families have more of a history than I realized.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Quick q: if you are married legally, do you have to have your spouse on your home loan too?

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  69. I wonder now that Logan is 18 and considered an adult if he will be shown less due to the fact that he would have to be paid as a principle on the show.
    I first thought that's why Kody wanted Logan to stay in LV. So he could get Logan's full episode share. But being he is of majority age Logan can keep that money and have it paid directly to him, cutting his dad out of the chance to profit off him. Kody and Mary would not like the fact they would miss out on that money.

    ReplyDelete
  70. http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/sister-wives

    New clip in which they all talk about wanting the kids to all be raised as a family.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Swimming With the SharksNovember 24, 2012 at 9:20 PM

    First time poster... enjoy reading the SWB immensely.

    Question: I read that the Darger fam special/new series (?) was originally supposed to air Nov 25th (after tomorrow night's episode I presume). However, checked my local listings and it does not air this week or next. Any info as to when My 3 Wives will be on?

    ReplyDelete